12b trans saharan gas project to miss 2018 deadline

The 12B Trans-Saharan Gas Project, a proposed pipeline that would transport natural gas from Nigeria to Europe, is likely to miss its 2018 deadline. The project has been plagued by delays, financing issues, and security concerns.

The 12B Trans-Saharan Gas Project is a joint venture between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Algerian state-owned oil company Sonatrach, and the Spanish energy company Repsol. The project aims to build a 4,000-kilometer pipeline that would transport natural gas from Nigeria's southern region to Europe, passing through Algeria and Morocco.

The project was initially scheduled to be completed by 2018, but it has been delayed several times due to various reasons. In 2017, the project's deadline was pushed back to 2020, and now it seems that the project may not be completed until 2022 or later.

The main reasons for the delay include:

1. Financing issues: The project requires significant funding, which has been difficult to secure due to the current economic conditions and the uncertainty surrounding the project's viability.
2. Security concerns: The pipeline would pass through several conflict-prone regions, including the Niger Delta in Nigeria and the Sahel region in Algeria and Morocco. This has raised concerns about the safety of the pipeline and the potential for attacks or sabotage.
3. Technical challenges: The project involves building a pipeline across several countries, which requires complex technical and logistical arrangements. The project's engineers and contractors have faced several challenges, including the need to navigate through difficult terrain and to deal with the harsh climate in the regions where the pipeline would be built.

Despite the delays, the 12B Trans-Saharan Gas Project remains an important initiative for Nigeria and its partners. The project would provide a new source of revenue for Nigeria and help to diversify its economy. It would also help to reduce Europe's dependence on Russian natural gas and provide a more secure and reliable source of energy.

In conclusion, the 12B Trans-Saharan Gas Project is likely to miss its 2018 deadline due to financing issues, security concerns, and technical challenges. However, the project remains an important initiative for Nigeria and its partners, and it is expected to provide significant economic benefits and improve energy security in the region.